The Builsa South district in the Upper East Region has experienced a remarkable surge in the demand for engineered rice fields. Recently, farmers in Uwasi, a community within the district, voiced their concerns over land distribution. Many of these farmers, initially allocated between 15 and 20 acres, expressed the need for additional land to expand their farming operations.
During an interview on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East Show on June 5, 2023, Daniel Kwame Gariba, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Builsa South, shed light on the situation. He highlighted that this upswing in demand signifies the resounding success of the government’s initiatives aimed at promoting rice production and making it a more enticing venture.
The surge in demand for engineered rice fields not only reflects the growing interest in rice farming but also underscores the need for effective land management strategies to meet the evolving needs of local farmers. As the district grapples with this increasing demand, stakeholders and authorities must work collaboratively to address land allocation challenges and ensure equitable access to resources, fostering sustainable agricultural practices in the region.
“Everybody is running to Builsa South when it comes to rice farming. I would say a lot is going on. We are just on the brink of the farming season and there is a lot of struggle in the valleys. Three days ago, there was a near scuffle in one of the communities all because of the space to farm rice.”
“These are places that were carved out for rice cultivation. We, together with the agric department, are trying to normalise the place for the indigenes to take part. You would expect that everyone gets between 15 and 20 acres but there are others that want to do 50 or even more than 50 acres. It creates that tension. That argument is going on. In the past, you didn’t have these arguments going on. These valleys were dormant and nobody bothered to go into rice farming but because of a certain mindset brought together by the Nana Akuffo Addo government, the rice project and the attention given to it, it has seen a great increase,” he said.
Mr. Gariba explained that farming has become an increasingly attractive venture for young people in the district.
“You have the youth in Builsa South, scrambling for space to farm. There are a number of them who have purchased their own tractors to farm. There are a number of them who are building their own block houses,” he said.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
